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Now that we are in the holiday season, take a look at the variety of programs offered at a branch near you! Take the kids to a storytime with Santa, watch A Christmas Carol live, prepare for holiday meals, and much more.

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Here's How to Find Your Next Favorite Book

June 17, 2011

What should I read next? – When your favorite authors can’t write fast enough or heaven forbid, they die, you’re set adrift in an ocean of books with no compass to guide you. Don’t despair! Mid-Continent has great tools on our website to navigate you safely to your next favorite author.

One of the simplest tools is the library catalog. Go to your current favorite book. On the "Item details" page under the picture of the cover, you’ll see a line that says "more on these topics." Click on that link. It will bring up all of the books in the system that fall under the same subject headings as your favorite. You’ll have plenty to choose from.

Another great tool sits beside the logo at the top of the home page. Click the heading, Books, Movies, Music. Explore everything that pops up on the left side of the page…

Based on the Book will lead you to movies based on great books and vice versa. Book Awards gives you a long list of prestigious prizes. Choose from among writers judged to be the best in their genre. Check the Spur Award if you like westerns, or the Pulitzer if you like literary works. Next, see what Our Staff Suggests or explore some of the Reader’s Advisory Websites linked to ours.

If you really want to dive deep for the next book you’ll treasure, explore one of the Books and Reading research databases. Fiction Connection is my favorite. It lets you set parameters, such as I want to read a book set in 1800’s Chicago about a lady detective who lives in a houseboat. If there’s a book out there that matches your desire, Fiction Connection will find it.

And of course, you can always come to any branch and ask a staff member. It’s our job to make sure you’re happily reading, and we love what we do!